Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga will miss today's game against New Zealand with an ankle injury.

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada (AP):

SRI LANKA are set to start the most crucial part of their Cricket World Cup campaign so far, against New Zealand today without their most formidable strike bowler.

Lasith Malinga, who made one-day cricket history with four wickets in four balls against South Africa near the start of the Super Eights, damaged left ankle ligaments in training and is all but certain to miss the match against the Kiwis at Grenada National Stadium. He may even be out until the semi-finals, if Sri Lanka get that far.

Today's match will go some way to deciding whether the Sri Lankans make it.

New Zealand are tied atop the Super Eights standings with Australia on eight points, two more than Sri Lanka and South Africa. The current top four look most likely to reach the semi-finals, but a loss for Sri Lanka could leave them vulnerable to a charge up the standings by England.

The Black Caps can clinch a place in the semi-finals if they win, leaving their games against South Africa and Australia to determine where they finish in the top four.

Sri Lanka beat England by two runs in their last game in Antigua on Friday and have also crushed West Indies by 113 runs, contributing to the tournament hosts near hopeless position in the standings.

Less dangerous

However, facing the Black Caps without Malinga would make the team a far less dangerous proposition.

"Malinga has been a revelation on the international scene. He's been brilliant for Sri Lankan cricket and cricket in general," wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara said yesterday.

"Whoever comes into his place must do the job."

That isn't easy when the player in question has an action so unorthodox he is nicknamed 'The Slinger' shares the lead in the wicket-taking charts at the World Cup with Australia's Glenn McGrath.

Malinga trained yesterday at the stadium in St. George's but had his ankle heavily strapped and did not reach full pace as he bowled a handful of balls.

Farveez Maharoof or Nuwan Kulasekara would take Malinga's place against New Zealand, who are coasting after Monday's 129-run win over Ireland in Guyana.

"We have a squad of five fast bowlers and we look to each one of them to step up when the opportunity presents itself," Sangakkara said.

There may be more onus than usual on star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to take wickets on a pitch that, in Tuesday's match between the West Indies and South Africa, appeared to offer more assistance to fast bowlers.

Sri Lanka, however, are not as reliant on their famed spinner as they once were.

"We have a very balanced attack," Sangakkara said. "In the past, we've been very spin heavy but in the past three years we've had great fast bowlers coming through."

Mason likely to miss out

New Zealand also have an injury worry over a pace bowler, with Michael Mason likely to miss out because of the calf injury he sustained against Bangladesh in Antigua.

That may not be too much of a problem, with Mark Gillespie seemingly fit again after a viral infection and Ross Taylor possibly ready to return following a hamstring strain.

New Zealand may play just one spinner in Daniel Vettori, dropping Jeetan Patel from the team that beat Ireland in favour of Gillespie.

"What we saw yesterday was not too many spinners on show," Vettori said. "It looks like it's going to be another low, slow one."

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Malinga Bandara.

New Zealand : Stephen Fleming (captain), Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Craig McMillan, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Jeetan Patel, Shane Bond, Mark Gillespie, Michael Mason, Ross Taylor, Chris Martin.